The fight over accepting federal stimulus dollars aimed at expanding unemployment benefits is another chapter in what many political observers characterize as Gov. Bobby Jindal’s rocky relationship with the state Legislature.In a letter sent to Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office last Wednesday, Douglas Small, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor, specified Louisiana would not be required to make a permanent change in state law by accepting the federal dollarsexpanding unemployment benefits – allaying one of Jindal’s primary concerns about accepting the $98 million.It’s still unclear whether Jindal will accept the money, as he still has fears accepting the stimulus money still may result in higher taxes — but potential efforts to override Jindal, should he ultimately reject the stimulus money, have swirled since his nationally televised speech.His new role as a representative for the national Republican Party has made him a more partisan figure – a transformation exacerbated by the fight over the federal stimulus dollars, an issue that has been breaking down party lines in the Legislature, said director for publicpolicy research for the Manship School of Mass Communications Robert Goidel.—-Contact Nate Monroe at [email protected]